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The site: the temple

Altar fragment bearing the royal names of Queen Amanitore (1st century AD)

Work thus far has concentrated on Kom H, a mound
surrounded by an enclosure wall in the centre of the site and a
large, well-preserved Amun temple of the first century AD has been
uncovered.

It is symmetrical, orientated east-west along a central aisle,
with the monumental pylon entrance facing the Nile (48.5x 33.5m),
and is constructed of mud bricks, sandstone and red bricks. Most of
the floors and the temple axis are paved with well-fitted sandstone
flagstones. Two columned courts precede the sanctuary which
contains four decorated sandstone columns and two altars, one of
which bears remains of decoration. The entrances to the sanctuary
chapels were faced with inscribed sandstone blocks. Eight plump
fertility figures striding forward towards the sanctuary decorate
each column along with four vertical Meroitic inscriptions. These
figures wear river plants and flowers on their heads, have fat
stomachs, pendulous breasts and wear short kilts. Each carries two
water jars that pour offerings to Amun. Fertility figures also
decorated one of the altars and the lower parts of the walls and
sanctuary facings. Traces of plaster and pigments remaining on the
walls and columns suggest that the temple had been brightly
decorated in blue, red and yellow. Geological analysis of the
quarries located in Jebel Nakharu directly across the river from
Dangeil, indicates that the stone used within the temple originated
there.

Several pink sandstone fragments of a third finely carved altar
were discovered within the sanctuary’s fill including a band of
stars that ran beneath a cavetto cornice and parts of the royal
names of the Kushite queen Amanitore inscribed within cartouches.
The Kushite rulers Amanitore and Natakamani were clearly temple
benefactors and may have constructed or restored the temple complex
as they did elsewhere in the Sudan during their reign in the first
century AD.

Charred palm roof beams were discovered just above the floors
throughout the entire temple. An extensive fire destroyed much of
the temple roofing and the subsequent collapse sealed the floors.
C14 and AMS dating of these beams confirm a date of construction in
the first century AD as do the associated ceramics. The cause of
the fire remains unknown; however, robber holes dug through floors
and the damage received by the altars and ram statues along the
processional way prior to the fire suggests the temple was
purposefully destroyed.